Jamie Oliver & His Reception in Ipswich...

What a day we had on Saturday the 3rd!! Jamie Oliver...what a larger than life character! He is the most down to earth, passionate (about his beliefs), friendly, tenacious (I could go on) person I have ever had the pleasure of seeing in action!

Welcoming the crowd & talking about the concept behind
the Ministry of Food.

Jamie seems to have immense reserves of stamina! He explained that while it was 1pm here in Ipswich it was only 4am for him (home time). I imagine with all his travels promoting the Ministry of food, his healthy eating programs worldwide plus his learning about the food of different cultures by visiting their countries (he'd just gotten back from Mexico & cooking with the 'Mexican Mummas') he'd have learnt to re-charge his batteries very quickly!
The menu for the morning was:  CHICKEN FAJITAS WITH HOMEMADE GUACAMOLE AND SALSA....Thus the need for coriander...very, very delicious...I think the wonderful food smells would have wafted all over the district ;-) Mmmmm, feeling hungry just thinking about it! I managed or I should say Mousie managed to score a set of the laminated recipe cards (thanks boss!) so I think it will be on the menu at home this weekend...just a pity Daddy Rat isn't a big fan of capsicum...oh well he can just pick it out as usual lol.
I had my big thrill when Jamie used my NinaV grown & potted coriander in his demonstration...yum yum? I hope so, he ate it without pulling any horrified faces! hahaha!

2 of the best pots of NinaV coriander take front stage...Even
have a guard ;-)

Jamie uses the NinaV coriander...YAY...lol

Before the actual cooking started, Jamie did a tour of the audience, to pick out 4 lucky people to add to the group that was partaking in the fajita demonstration. The original group consisted of our State Premier Anna Bligh, our Ipswich Mayor Paul, a few celebs, some people that had completed a cooking course & some lucky people that had won a spot.
My 6yr old Mousie was jumping up & down saying "Can I cook with Jamie...can I cook with Jamie"...I said "No you're too young, he's looking for bigger kids"...Famous last words...he picked a 5yr old boy (Ashton, who has now been in numerous interviews etc)...Oh dear, was I frowned upon ;-(   
Anyway when he got to Mousie & I, he stood right in front of us & I got all tongue tied. So instead of shaking his hand & saying "Hi, I'm one of your volunteers *smile*...I put my camera back up & took his photo...*furious blushing*, *groan*! Oh well...
If you're interested, I was given the choice to work at the event or be in the audience...I decided to be in the audience so I could take Mousie who loves Jamie to bits (a friend had a spare ticket for Mousie & all vollies were given tickets)...I'm very happy with my choice & so is Mousie.

Jamie stands right in front of us...

Bantering with our Ipswich Mayor Paul...

Jamie with Ipswich Mayor  Paul & Qld Premier Anna Bligh

The cooking demonstration was excellent & he managed to teach, tell funny stories, & speak more about the Ministry of Food & his other healthy food endeavors at the same time...I love to see a multi-skilled man in action!

Getting the giggles telling a funny story

At the end of the demo, after he thanked everyone, he invited people to line up to have books signed etc (apparently that wasn't on the timetable...good on you Jamie). Mousie & I went over to talk to some of the other vollies & trainers & Mousie jumped in to give a hand cleaning up...She's such a good girl & was complimented for it :-)

By this stage the heavens opened, so we 2, soaked, but happy girls decided to exit stage left...

Luckily Jamie brought his brolly!....BYE Jamie & thankyou!
Contrary to what the media said later on, Jamie continued to sign books & have photos taken, did some media interviews inside & then, ignoring the wind up from his entourage, stuck around to talk to all the workers still waiting to wash all those dishes & finish cleaning up...what a genuinely nice guy! The media tried to say that he only stayed for another 1/2 hour after the demo & then let himself be hustled out by his minders...tut,tut,tut...give the guy a break!
I went in to The ministry of Food yesterday to do my usual volunteering day & what should be on the walls but some lovely messages from Jamie himself...nice one mate ;-)
One last photo from Saturday because I think it's cute...

One tired but happy Mousie at the end of the day flaked out on the lounge straight after dinner. With regards to the rubber duck...*head scratch*...I really have no idea...LOL xxx

Jamie Oliver visits Ipswich tomorrow...

Tomorrow Jamie Oliver finally gets to see his first Australian Ministry of Food Cooking school in person. We, the volunteers & the trainers, are excited that he will be able to find out in person what a difference it has made to peoples' lives both in Ipswich & to those that have come from further afield to join the program. I personally love nothing better than to see someone become animated with excitement when they've learnt & put into practice a new skill or discovered a new food or just learnt an interesting nutritional/food fact.  It gets us all excited & inspired & that is priceless! 

Ad borrowed from the local paper...ssssh!

Ipswich will be very crowded tomorrow I imagine with legions of adoring fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite TV chef...or maybe they'll be trying to bribe their way into the ticket holders area...scaling fences even...hahaha, my imagination was getting away from me!

500 lucky people have (free) tickets to watch his cooking demo  close up at 1pm. These tickets were offered online by 'The Goodguys' (sponsors) & they were snapped up in under 15 minutes...luckily, we volunteers all get a ticket each & a lovely friend had a spare ticket for Mousie...thankyou friend ;-)

My interesting contribution for the day is some herbal set dressing. On Tuesday (my volunteering day) I took in a heap of coriander, from my garden, to be planted in the MOF herb garden (recycled wheelbarrow). This wheelbarrow is parked out the front of the centre during the day for people going past to pick/taste/smell. While the bucket of coriander (recycled honey bucket) was sitting on the bench waiting to be planted one of tomorrows organisers asked where it had come from & could we get any more. Pick me, pick me...Apparently it is needed for the cooking set & she wasn't able to get any plants just the right size...she had some pots but no herbs. Yay for me...I won't get to meet him but my herbs will...classic!

All potted up & ready for duty...

The painted (white) pots with saucers are ones we had at the MOF...the browny ones came from ikea (no holes, no saucers...I did say" I could drill some holes but you have no saucers" but was told not to bother...Arrrg....

This morning after careful nurturing & snipping...disaster...

OMG...carked coriander!!!

3 out of the 4 browny, unholey, bloody ikea pots contained pretty well 'carked coriander'...should I dare an "I told you so"? A quick trip to the local nursery (locally owned),  $8  & 2 pots of coriander later...plus a quick dig of the lemon thyme from my garden and....

The day is saved!! Phew! I have asked that instead of reimbursement I get to take the herbs home after the event & give them a good home (again) plus the pots which will feel the bite of my drill bit! *evil laugh aimed at  the browny pots*

I will return tomorrow with news of the event...

For those that are interested it will be live-streamed  online tomorrow from 1pm (non daylight saving Eastern Standard time)  but I couldn't tell you as yet the web address for that.

xxx